New Zealand Kiwis coach Michael Maguire today confirmed his 21-man squad ahead of the Pacific Championship Series later in the month.
Maguire’s squad revolves around regular stars Jahrome Hughes, Joey Manu and Joseph Tapine but is missing some significant star power.
Among those missing are the injured Brandon Smith and the Bromwich brothers, Jesse and Kenny.
The Dolphins’ forwards have a combined 48 caps for the Kiwis, with Jesse captaining the side since 2016.
Speaking to SENZ Maguire confirmed Jesse has called it a day on his international career, leading to an inevitable search for a new captain.
“Jesse is finishing up in the international space,” Maguire told SENZ The Run Home.
“He’s been a great player in my time as the coach and I really appreciated Jesse, I was very fortunate to have Jesse as a young player when I was down there in Melbourne.
“To watch him have such a great career and he had some challenges, but he always bounced back.
“I can’t thank him enough for the support that he’s given me.”
Maguire was reluctant to confirm whether Kenny would return for the Kiwis in the future but gave an update on why he was left out of the recent squad.
“Kenny, his body is just at that stage where he needed a break,” Maguire added.
“I think off the back of a long year, (a) World Cup, (being at a) new club, he wanted to have a bit of a pause in the international space.
“So, we’ll reassess where he’s at, but Jesse’s finished up in that space, from myself and all of the New Zealand hierarchy, we’re very appreciative for what he’s done in the Kiwi jersey.
“He’ll go down as one of the legends.”
New Zealand will play its first game without the Bromwich brothers on the 21st of October against Samoa at Eden Park.